[SOLVED] Display Video Monitor Resolution failed to resize

[hankivy]

My Mageia 4 system was fixed on a 1024x768 resolution. The Mageia Control Center could not change the resolution to a larger number of pixels. My system had been running with a larger number of pixels, had a power outage event, went to 1024x768, and would not change.

HOW IT LOCKED UP:
My system has a UPS. I was playing a game, "Battle for Wesnoth', in full screen mode. A local thunderstorm took power down, and up several times. Each time the power status changed another message window came up on top of the game that wanted to be on top of the monitor. Normally clicking on the power status message window would make it go away. This time it would not. I suspect the game was catching the mouse event before the power status message window could see it. I tried to quit the game before the UPS shut the system down, but the game pops up a confirmation message window before quitting. But I could not see the confirmation message window, it was likely behind the power status message windows. The power status message windows were filling the center of the screen from top to bottom. Now I started pressing and releasing the power button on the tower, several times. The system finally powered off. [The full screen mode of the game may have changed the default resolution of the monitor.]

RECOVERY OF SYSTEM:
After the electricity came back on, the system was fixed on a 1024x768 resolution. I tried the Mageia Control Center, selected "Hardware", launched "Set up the graphical server', selected 'Resolution'. The resolution was 'automatic". [I used a 1024x768 wallpaper picture to check the resolution.] The resolution button only gave me a few choices, automatic, and other. I tried some larger choices for a new resolution. But it always went back to 1024x768.

CHANGING MONITOR RESOLUTION:
I was logged in as the user hank. I switched user to root, and ran the following commands:

Code: Select all

[hank@HIvyTower ~]$ sudo su - root
[sudo] password for hank:
[root@HIvyTower ~]# env | grep -i display
[root@HIvyTower ~]# export XAUTHORITY=/home/hank/.Xauthority
[root@HIvyTower ~]# export DISPLAY=":0"
[root@HIvyTower ~]# monitor-edid -v
[root@HIvyTower ~]# xrandr --verbose
[root@HIvyTower ~]# xrandr --output HDMI1 --mode 1680x1050


The two export commands tell the utilities later which display I wanted to talk about, and gave them the authority to do so in my window. The last command changed the resolution of the monitor at that moment. Then I tried the Mageia Control Center, selected "Hardware", launched "Set up the graphical server', selected 'Resolution'. The resolution was 'automatic". I selected Other, reselected "Resolution", and found more sizes offered. I picked 1680x1050. It continues to use the 1680x1050 size after several power off shutdowns and reboots. It is all good.

Below are the ouputs of the "monitor-edid -v", and "xrandr --verbose" commands, and contain a lot of size options and monitor name HDMI1.

Code: Select all

[root@HIvyTower ~]# monitor-edid -v
probing EDID using VBE (port 0)
VBE version: 3.0, oem version = 1.0
Memory: 65472k
OEM name: Intel(R) Sandybridge/Ivybridge Graphics Chipset Accelerated VGA BIOS
Vendor name: Intel Corporation
Product name: Intel(R) Sandybridge/Ivybridge Graphics Controller
Product revision: ~��
Port 0:
  DDC1 not supported
  DDC2 supported
  Screen not blanked during data transfer
  Time to transfer one EDID block: 1 sec (rounded up)
probing EDID using VBE (port 1)
Port 1:
  DDC1 not supported
  DDC2 supported
  Screen not blanked during data transfer
  Time to transfer one EDID block: 1 sec (rounded up)
EDID: Error (0x4f15:01): 0x014f
probing EDID using VBE (port 2)
Port 2:
  DDC1 not supported
  DDC2 supported
  Screen not blanked during data transfer
  Time to transfer one EDID block: 1 sec (rounded up)
EDID: Error (0x4f15:01): 0x014f
parsing EDID from /sys/class/drm/card0-HDMI-A-1/edid
Name: Acer X223W
EISA ID: ACR0050
EDID version: 1.3
EDID extension blocks: 0
Screen size: 47.4 cm x 29.6 cm (22.00 inches, aspect ratio 16/10 = 1.60)
Gamma: 2.2
Digital signal
Standard resolution: 640x480 @ 60 Hz (established timing)
Standard resolution: 640x480 @ 67 Hz (established timing)
Standard resolution: 640x480 @ 72 Hz (established timing)
Standard resolution: 640x480 @ 75 Hz (established timing)
Standard resolution: 720x400 @ 70 Hz (established timing)
Standard resolution: 800x600 @ 56 Hz (established timing)
Standard resolution: 800x600 @ 60 Hz (established timing)
Standard resolution: 800x600 @ 72 Hz (established timing)
Standard resolution: 800x600 @ 75 Hz (established timing)
Standard resolution: 832x624 @ 75 Hz (established timing)
Standard resolution: 1024x768 @ 60 Hz (established timing)
Standard resolution: 1024x768 @ 70 Hz (established timing)
Standard resolution: 1024x768 @ 75 Hz (established timing)
Standard resolution: 1280x1024 @ 75 Hz (established timing)
Standard resolution: 1152x864 @ 75 Hz, ratio 4/3 (!)
Standard resolution: 1280x1024 @ 60 Hz, ratio 5/4 (!)
Standard resolution: 1680x1050 @ 60 Hz, ratio 16/10
Standard resolution: 1440x900 @ 75 Hz, ratio 16/10
Standard resolution: 1440x900 @ 60 Hz, ratio 16/10
Standard resolution: 1600x1200 @ 60 Hz, ratio 4/3 (!)
Standard resolution: 1280x960 @ 60 Hz, ratio 4/3 (!)
Standard resolution: 1280x720 @ 60 Hz, ratio 16/9 (!)
Max video bandwidth: 170 MHz

        HorizSync 31-83
        VertRefresh 56-75

        # Monitor preferred modeline (59.9 Hz vsync, 64.7 kHz hsync, ratio 16/10, 90 dpi)
        ModeLine "1680x1050" 119 1680 1728 1760 1840 1050 1053 1059 1080 -hsync -vsync
[root@HIvyTower ~]#

And:

Code: Select all

[root@HIvyTower ~]# xrandr --verbose
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1680 x 1050, maximum 32767 x 32767
VGA1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
        Identifier: 0x42
        Timestamp:  24673
        Subpixel:   unknown
        Clones:   
        CRTCs:      0 1
        Transform:  1.000000 0.000000 0.000000
                    0.000000 1.000000 0.000000
                    0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
                   filter:
HDMI1 connected primary 1680x1050+0+0 (0x47) normal (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 474mm x 296mm
        Identifier: 0x43
        Timestamp:  24673
        Subpixel:   unknown
        Gamma:      1.0:1.0:1.0
        Brightness: 1.0
        Clones:   
        CRTC:       0
        CRTCs:      0 1
        Transform:  1.000000 0.000000 0.000000
                    0.000000 1.000000 0.000000
                    0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
                   filter:
        EDID:
                00ffffffffffff0004725000b7476090
                06130103802f1e78caee95a3544c9926
                0f5054bfef80714f8180b300950f9500
                a940814081c07c2e90a0601a1e403020
                3600da2811000018000000fd00384b1f
                5311000a202020202020000000fc0041
                6365722058323233570a2020000000ff
                004c44583044303131383531300a000c
        Broadcast RGB: Automatic
                supported: Automatic, Full, Limited 16:235
        audio: auto
                supported: force-dvi, off, auto, on
  1680x1050 (0x47)  119.0MHz -HSync -VSync *current +preferred
        h: width  1680 start 1728 end 1760 total 1840 skew    0 clock   64.7KHz
        v: height 1050 start 1053 end 1059 total 1080           clock   59.9Hz
  1600x1200 (0x9e)  162.0MHz +HSync +VSync
        h: width  1600 start 1664 end 1856 total 2160 skew    0 clock   75.0KHz
        v: height 1200 start 1201 end 1204 total 1250           clock   60.0Hz
  1280x1024 (0x9f)  135.0MHz +HSync +VSync
        h: width  1280 start 1296 end 1440 total 1688 skew    0 clock   80.0KHz
        v: height 1024 start 1025 end 1028 total 1066           clock   75.0Hz
  1280x1024 (0xa0)  108.0MHz +HSync +VSync
        h: width  1280 start 1328 end 1440 total 1688 skew    0 clock   64.0KHz
        v: height 1024 start 1025 end 1028 total 1066           clock   60.0Hz
  1440x900 (0xa1)  136.8MHz -HSync +VSync
        h: width  1440 start 1536 end 1688 total 1936 skew    0 clock   70.6KHz
        v: height  900 start  903 end  909 total  942           clock   75.0Hz
  1440x900 (0xa2)   88.8MHz +HSync -VSync
        h: width  1440 start 1488 end 1520 total 1600 skew    0 clock   55.5KHz
        v: height  900 start  903 end  909 total  926           clock   59.9Hz
  1280x960 (0xa3)  108.0MHz +HSync +VSync
        h: width  1280 start 1376 end 1488 total 1800 skew    0 clock   60.0KHz
        v: height  960 start  961 end  964 total 1000           clock   60.0Hz
  1152x864 (0xa4)  108.0MHz +HSync +VSync
        h: width  1152 start 1216 end 1344 total 1600 skew    0 clock   67.5KHz
        v: height  864 start  865 end  868 total  900           clock   75.0Hz
  1280x720 (0xa5)   74.4MHz -HSync +VSync
        h: width  1280 start 1336 end 1472 total 1664 skew    0 clock   44.7KHz
        v: height  720 start  721 end  724 total  746           clock   60.0Hz
  1024x768 (0xa6)   78.8MHz +HSync +VSync
        h: width  1024 start 1040 end 1136 total 1312 skew    0 clock   60.1KHz
        v: height  768 start  769 end  772 total  800           clock   75.1Hz
  1024x768 (0xa7)   75.0MHz -HSync -VSync
        h: width  1024 start 1048 end 1184 total 1328 skew    0 clock   56.5KHz
        v: height  768 start  771 end  777 total  806           clock   70.1Hz
  1024x768 (0xa8)   65.0MHz -HSync -VSync
        h: width  1024 start 1048 end 1184 total 1344 skew    0 clock   48.4KHz
        v: height  768 start  771 end  777 total  806           clock   60.0Hz
  832x624 (0xa9)   57.3MHz -HSync -VSync
        h: width   832 start  864 end  928 total 1152 skew    0 clock   49.7KHz
        v: height  624 start  625 end  628 total  667           clock   74.6Hz
  800x600 (0xaa)   50.0MHz +HSync +VSync
        h: width   800 start  856 end  976 total 1040 skew    0 clock   48.1KHz
        v: height  600 start  637 end  643 total  666           clock   72.2Hz
  800x600 (0xab)   49.5MHz +HSync +VSync
        h: width   800 start  816 end  896 total 1056 skew    0 clock   46.9KHz
        v: height  600 start  601 end  604 total  625           clock   75.0Hz
  800x600 (0xac)   40.0MHz +HSync +VSync
        h: width   800 start  840 end  968 total 1056 skew    0 clock   37.9KHz
        v: height  600 start  601 end  605 total  628           clock   60.3Hz
  800x600 (0xad)   36.0MHz +HSync +VSync
        h: width   800 start  824 end  896 total 1024 skew    0 clock   35.2KHz
        v: height  600 start  601 end  603 total  625           clock   56.2Hz
  640x480 (0xae)   31.5MHz -HSync -VSync
        h: width   640 start  656 end  720 total  840 skew    0 clock   37.5KHz
        v: height  480 start  481 end  484 total  500           clock   75.0Hz
  640x480 (0xaf)   31.5MHz -HSync -VSync
        h: width   640 start  664 end  704 total  832 skew    0 clock   37.9KHz
        v: height  480 start  489 end  491 total  520           clock   72.8Hz
  640x480 (0xb0)   30.2MHz -HSync -VSync
        h: width   640 start  704 end  768 total  864 skew    0 clock   35.0KHz
        v: height  480 start  483 end  486 total  525           clock   66.7Hz
  640x480 (0xb1)   25.2MHz -HSync -VSync
        h: width   640 start  656 end  752 total  800 skew    0 clock   31.5KHz
        v: height  480 start  490 end  492 total  525           clock   60.0Hz
  720x400 (0xb2)   28.3MHz -HSync +VSync
        h: width   720 start  738 end  846 total  900 skew    0 clock   31.5KHz
        v: height  400 start  412 end  414 total  449           clock   70.1Hz
DP1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
        Identifier: 0x44
        Timestamp:  24673
        Subpixel:   unknown
        Clones:   
        CRTCs:      0 1
        Transform:  1.000000 0.000000 0.000000
                    0.000000 1.000000 0.000000
                    0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
                   filter:
        Broadcast RGB: Automatic
                supported: Automatic, Full, Limited 16:235
        audio: auto
                supported: force-dvi, off, auto, on
VIRTUAL1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
        Identifier: 0x45
        Timestamp:  24673
        Subpixel:   no subpixels
        Clones:   
        CRTCs:      2
        Transform:  1.000000 0.000000 0.000000
                    0.000000 1.000000 0.000000
                    0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
                   filter:
[root@HIvyTower ~]#

[doktor5000]

Is this supposed to be a solution? Then I'd move it to the tips&tricks subforum.

Totally apart from that, you should distinguish between what you configure in drakx11 as default resolution for the X server and the monitor,
and what you configure with xrandr, which are two pretty different things. Recommendation is to leave it in MCC to plug&play and don't set a resolution,
and change it during runtime dynamically with the relevant tool of your desktop environment via xrandr.

[hankivy]

I thought it was a solution. MCC, and drakx11 were not changing the resolution, immediately, or on the next reboot. Maybe I was using drakx11 wrong, or expecting it to work differently than it does. xrandr was used once and only once, in an act of desperation. After that I was able to use MCC, and drakx11 successfully. When my system reboots, and I login, the preferred resolution comes up every time, without using xrandr.

If I had confidence that I could put my system back into the same sorry state that had my monitor resolution locked up, then I would test further, to learn if xrandr had really been needed. All I can do is document one data point, one user's experience. If no one ever has this issue, or needs to use this solution, then we can all go on our merry way, and forget it ever happened. If everybody thinks this never happened to anyone else, and does not take the time to document it the best they can, then we will never understand the real scope of the issue, or document a work-around.

One possible issue, might be that my monitor did not change it's resolution during the test interval, went black during the test, I did not see an OK button to click, drakx11 went back to a known good, (but undesired) resolution before the monitor could respond to the testing of the newly selected resolution. If xrandr had used an improper resolution, and my screen was full of gibberish, then I would have cycled power on the tower. The system would have come back up with a usable, but not optimal resolution, and I would start over.

At this point, my system is working fine.